Home Office Insipiration for Small Spaces and Tight Budgets

Alex and I moved to a new apartment. Now we don’t have space for a dedicated study or a desk in the bedroom, so we have to go with a workspace in the dinning/living/TV room (it’s our everything room). Here is some home office inspiration and ideas for small spaces and tight budgets.

He is a web developer and he works with a desktop PC. I now work from home and use a Macbook. Problem: we only have space for one small desk.

So, my challenge is to design a shared desk area in a very reduced space, that blends in with the living/dinning/TV room area atmosphere. This is especially hard because Alex is obsessed with ergonomics and has a black chair the size of a mammoth. I tried convincing him it was too big for a living room workspace, but I lost the discussion and he got to keep the chair (which, I have to admit, is very comfortable). It has to be functional and mess-free.

Basic needs for our home office -to-be:

1. Good Working Lamp

On the left side of the desk so that the shadow of your hand doesn’t cover what you’re writing (opposite if you’re a lefty)

2. Desktop Storage

We need something with a drawer so that he can put away his keyboard, mouse and headphones when he is not using them.

3. Wall visual organization and planning tools

I make lists, I need visual organization and inspiration. To-do lists, moodboards, notes, etc. Wall clock and calendar for planning and keeping track of time.

4. Shelving and wall storage

A couple of shelves with boxes for clutter-free extra storage, decoration and visual inspiration objects.

We also need a way to put the screen on the wall at eye-level, to both leave more free surface on the desk and for ergonomics.

Inspiration for small home offices:

Home office Color Scheme

Tiny Ikea Desks

A couple of ideas for tiny desks from Ikea for small workspaces. The Micke desk (40€. 50x75x75cm) and a combination of Linnmon top (10€. 60x100com) and Krille legs (10.50€ each). The drawer in the Micke desk is a plus, but I love the look of the Krille legs and the versatility of a rolling desk.

Floating, Extensible Desks

Floating shelving and desk systems are also a great idea, but fitting a PC screen in there and leaving space for wall organization will not be easy. Plus, weight is an issue if you need to store books or other heavy items.

Great space saver if you don’t need any more storage space (drawers, etc.) and makes cleaning so much easier. If you want, send me pics of your room and I’ll help you figure it out. Do you have an Ikea nearby? I send you a tight hug!

Hello, I’m Mrs. Lentil

I'm Corina, a Venezuelan in Madrid. Married to the love of my life and owner of a lovely dog named Bimba.
Pretty and practical things, food and inspiration come together to give you a glimpse of my day to day life.